Under the Lights by Abbi Glines Read Free Book Online Page B

lost my smile.
    The teacher began to talk, and I gave him my attention, even if the past was haunting my thoughts and reminding me why I’d never truly be normal again.
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    Asa attempted to talk to me several times during class, and I managed a smile, if not a response, each time. My chest was heavy, but I wanted to feel normal again, if only for a moment. Was that selfish of me? Should I get to feel normal?
    When the bell rang—ending my wasted class, since my mind hadn’t registered one thing that the teacher had said—I picked up my books and stood up.
    â€œWhat class do you have next?” Asa asked as he got up to walk with me toward the door. I guess he was serious about walking me there.
    â€œLit,” I replied.
    â€œI’m two doors down in Spanish. Also, saw you get out of Gunner’s truck today. Had any trouble with Kimmie yet?”
    I wasn’t sure what that meant. Kimmie was the girl from the restroom yesterday and one of the girls who had bombarded Gunner when we’d arrived. I knew that much, but as for me having any issues with her, I hadn’t dealt with that. She didn’t pay much attention to me.
    â€œNo,” I replied.
    He nodded. “You will. She’s not going to be able to handle you at all.”
    If he meant she would be jealous of me, then she was just silly. Gunner wasn’t serious about her or anyone for that matter. Girls who were blind to teenage boys who clearly didn’t care about them were sad. They thought the television romance was real. It wasn’t. This was not One Tree Hill . It was real life.
    â€œHe referred to me as his wingman this morning. She doesn’t need to worry about me. She needs to worry about all the girls who are stupid enough to think they have a chance at an actual relationship with him. Like her.”
    Asa laughed loudly. “Damn I like you.”
    â€œThanks.” I was going to say more when my eyes met Gunner’s as he made his way toward me.
    â€œAnd here he comes,” Asa said, once again sounding amused.
    Gunner’s eyes went from me to Asa as if he were annoyed. I wasn’t sure why he would be, and if he actedannoyed, I was going to set him straight. But that wasn’t going to happen right now because Kimmie stepped in front of him, blocking his path. Which made Asa laugh again.
    â€œOne day he’ll figure out that a quickie from Kimmie means weeks of her up his ass.”
    â€œHas he done this with her before?” I asked, watching him move her out of his way with both his hands on her shoulders. His scowl was surprising. I’d never seen him pissed like that before.
    â€œBeen happening since ninth grade. She’s an easy lay, but then she clings. We’ve all learned our lesson, but Gunner can’t seem to shake her.”
    I wonder what it was about her that kept drawing him back in.
    â€œKind of like Ivy and Brady. Except Brady doesn’t seem to mind Ivy’s clingy ways. He lets it happen because she’s hot. I think in Ivy’s head they’re an item. Brady however doesn’t see it as an exclusive thing. But then none of the guys have tried to bang her either.”
    I had been away from high school drama, dealing with real world stuff, for so long now I found it pointless. Once I’d been that girl wrapped up in a guy, thinking he loved me. Not knowing what was really happening when I wasn’t around. Never once guessing the truth until it was rightthere in front of me. What I thought was a broken heart then didn’t even touch the reality of being broken.
    â€œHere’s your class,” Asa said, stopping my thoughts from going dark once again.
    â€œThank you.”
    He shrugged and on his tall frame it looked out of place. Like that of a little boy, not a massive football player. “I’ll see you at lunch?” I think it was a question. It sounded like one. So I simply nodded,